Stargazers// Corbyn Besson

2 ~ Corbyn

If I'm being completely honest with you, I couldn't wait to go to space camp. Sure, it wasn't NASA's summer program but it still had to do with space and spending three months with other space nerds. It was the best way to spend the summer before my senior year. A new place, with new people, away from home sounded amazing. I would even go as far as to say that it was the best idea my mother had. I couldn't wait for it to start.

I started packing the night after school ended. "Corbyn, honey, camp doesn't start for another week." "I know, it's just, I'm so excited." "I am so happy to hear that. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, I'll send your sister up to get you when everything is ready." I nodded and she walked merrily out of my room. My mom and I have a great relationship. So do my siblings and I. I pulled out all my science related shirts and stuffed them into my NASA duffel bag. I packed up some of my favorite astronomy books in an other bag. We are only allowed to bring 2 bags and I couldn't figure out what to bring. "Yo Corbs, dinner's ready." "Thanks Ash, I'll be down in a sec." I put my bags aside and went downstairs to have dinner with my family.

We left for camp 3 days before it actually started. It would take us a while to get their from where we live so younger brother and sister joined me and my parents for the nice little road trip. Jordan is 2 years younger than me. He mainly spends his time in the gym or at football practice. I have a younger sister, Ashley. She is 3 years younger than me and I can't really tell you what she does. She spends a lot of time in her room or hanging out with me, halfway listing to me rave about space and astrophysics. The car rise started off like any, everybody listening to their own music and playing on what ever device they had while mom drove. Well, everyone but me, I couldn't focus on anything but the idea that I was about to have my mind blown.

When we finally arrived at Camp Stargazers, we were 15 minutes early, but I wasn't the only early bird. My vision got a little misty as I watched my parents and siblings drive away, not to be seen for the next two and a half months. I gravitated to the small crowd of people there. They all seemed to be pretty close and friendly with one another. I figured it would just be best if I stayed out of their way. I was standing around when a boy my age with really curly hair came up to me. "Hey. I'm Jack!" He said sticking his hand out for me to shake. "I'm Corbyn." "Sorry about that group, they are the more popular geeks. They aren't very welcoming, even when you become a part of them." "Oh, interesting." "Yeah." I began to talk with Jack as we watched more people begin to show up. The camp counselor came out and everyone's attention turned to him. I heard a car door close and I looked over to see a girl with long black hair in all black trudging over to us. "Holy shit." I heard Jack whisper. "What? Do you know her?" "I think that might be Lilith Shane?!"

Much to my relief, Jack and I were put in the same cabin. There were a few people left and Mr. Chuck called out "Lilith Shane, group D!" Jack slightly gasped. "What?" I said, still very confused on this Lilith Shane. "I'll tell you when we get to the cabin." "Lilith Shane?" Mr. Chuck called again. The girl from earlier lifted her head, and for the first time ever, I noticed her nose ring. She walked over to her cabin group and I heard whispering from the other people around me. "What is she doing here?" "Is this some kind of joke?" "There goes my one summer of not getting mocked senselessly." I don't know this Lilith girl, but she sounds like a real B.

We got to the dorm and Jack and I claimed the only room with two beds. "So, tell me about Lilith Shane." "She is the ultimate edgy girl. I have never seen her wearing any color besides black. She is constantly mocking people and getting in trouble for stupid shit that doesn't really matter. But last year, she was out for a really long time. Like, a crazy long time. On one told us what happened but we all knew what happened by what she looked like on her first day back. She ended up having to finish her junior year online." "What happened to her?" "It turns out that she-" "Sorry to interrupt campers, but it's time to head to the dining hall for orientation!" "Thanks Mr. Chuck." We both said. "I'll finish telling you later." Jack said with a small wink. It feels good to have a friend here.

All the other main counselors introduced themselves to us all and Mr. Chuck read through the rules. He defiantly wouldn't have a problem with me breaking any of the rules. I don't spend a lot of time on my phone. I have never even thought about drugs, drinking or cigarettes. Sexual activities isn't gonna be too hard, I haven't even kissed a girl let alone had sex with one. He asked if anyone had questions and as far as I could see, no one had raised their hands. I figured he would move on in the presentation but he pointed to someone in the very back of the dinning hall. "Yes Miss Shane?" "What will happen if we fail to follow the rules?" "Failure to comply to the rules here at Camp Stargazers will end in a phone call to your parents telling them you have used up your 3 strikes and they must pick you up promptly at 9 AM the next morning." In that case, Lilith Shane would be out by this Thursday.

That night. Everyone sat in a circle on the floor and we each got a turn to talk about ourselves. I'm not too introverted but I'm also not a social butterfly. "Hello everyone. I'm Corbyn Besson. I am 17 years old. I love all things space. and I also have a few musical talents as well." "Where are you from?" Mr. Chuck asked. For some reason, I didn't really want to give him a real answer so I said, "The Earth." I got a few laughs but I noticed out of the corner of my eye, a boy who looked to be only a few months younger than be glaring at me. I hadn't seen him before but I could tell he didn't like me. We all headed to our rooms at 10. I was pulled away from the group of boys and when I turned around, I saw that same boy. "Hello?" I said, as if it were a question. "Oh don't you hello me Besson." "I'm sorry. Do I know you?" "You should. I dated your sister and she broke up with me. You and your dumb ass brother socked me in the face because she said I cheated on her." "Dick Reid?" "Yeah." "What are you doing at a space camp in Vermont?" "I could ask you the same question." "I love space." "I'm here to make your summer a living hell." "Hey Corbyn, light's out, let's go!" Jack called from the doorway. "Sleep with one eye open." Dick said as he walked past me into his room.

I tried to get to sleep but what Dick told me was still ringing in my ears. "Sleep with one eye open." I thought back to the day he was talking about. I had been best friends with Dick since first grade, it doesn't surprise me that he is here because we both loved space. Ashley and him started dating three months before the day he was talking about. Ashley had come home in tears because she found him feeling up her best friend and she dumped him. Jordan and I, being the protective older brothers we were, deiced to take it upon our selves to put this punk in his place. Our family has a saying, "Bescherm degenen van wie je houdt." It means, "Protect those you love." It's in Dutch because it's my mom's first language. Jordan and I cornered him in the hallway and took turns giving him a nice sock to the face. There was no one around and when he got to the nurses office, his moth was so swollen, he couldn't tell her who did it. We didn't have cameras at our school so they had to wait until his mouth healed. When he finally did snitch it was too late, his parents had already signed transfer papers and he was gone the next day. Word got out that it was me and Jordan but no one seemed to care. Ashley found out but she wasn't mad at us like we thought she would be. Instead she gave both of us big hugs and said she owed us big time.

"Sleep with one eye open." What the hell did he mean by that. I turned over and I jumped. In front of my face was a dead frog, sitting on my pillow. I flung it out of my be and saw a little note that was under it. "Let's see who is the "fucking dick" now bitch boi." I threw the note on the floor, with its's little frog pal. I got  up and left the room. I don't know why, but some part of me felt like it had to get out of there. I guess I needed a place to get out my anger so I wouldn't wake up Jack. I spotted a hill with a circle of trees on top of it. Bingo.

I forgot to put shoes on so I ran, but not as fast as I normally would have. As I neared the top, I began to hear someone breathing. I dismissed it as just the leaves rustling. I began to push through the low hanging branches on some of the trees and I saw a shadow of some sorts in the middle. I pushed past the last branch and came into the clearing. I looked at the shadow I had seen before. It turns out that it wasn't a shadow at all. I watched at the girl turned her head causing her longish hair to fly out of her way. And I couldn't believe it. There in front of me, on the ground, was Lilith Shane.